In comparison with other transport sectors such as automotive and aerospace, the railway industry has evolved relatively slowly on aspects of whole-life optimization and integrated asset management. Market liberalization and increasingly international spans of operation, are stimulating a change in emphasis, forcing railway operators to become more business focused covering improved punctuality, improved customer satisfaction, reduced operational costs and increased security. Many of these requirements can only be met efficiently by the provision of Intelligent Wayside Solutions that are fully integrated with the rolling stock making the on-board systems accessible in real-time to the operational control centre for decision taking on diagnostics and maintenance, operational aspects, passenger communication and security.
Abstract